Finite element discrete ordinates method for radiative transfer in non-rotationally invariant scattering media - Application to the leaf canopy problem

A finite element discrete ordinates method for solving the radiative transfer equation in nonrotationally invariant scattering media has been applied to the lead-canopy problem, and results are presented on the cross sections and the reflection functions. The method is based on a unique implementation of the Galerkin integral law formulation of the transport equation. For both near-normal and grazing incidences, the transfer functions of leaf canopies are found to be strongly anisotropic, with relatively more scattered flux in the vertical directions. It is suggested that the assumption of isotropic scattering in leaf canopies is not valid.